New Delhi, July 28 — The Supreme Court of India has raised grave concerns over the increasing number of student suicides in premier educational institutions, questioning the management of IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University about their role and response in two recent cases. The apex court’s Bench, comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, took a strong stance during the hearing of a suo motu case on Monday.
“Why are students committing suicide? What is the management doing?” the Bench asked, demanding detailed accountability. Both the Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal Police have been directed to file comprehensive status reports within four weeks.
Serious Allegations Against University Managements
In the case involving Sharda University, Amicus Curiae Aparna Bhatt informed the court that the father of the deceased second-year BDS student Jyoti Sharma had filed an FIR just two hours after the suicide. A suicide note was recovered, and two arrests have been made so far. However, the Supreme Court criticised the institution for failing to comply with previously issued guidelines regarding student safety and communication protocols.
The court asked pointed questions:
- “Did the students inform the father?”
- “Why didn’t the college management take immediate steps to inform the family and police?”
- “Is it not the responsibility of the administration to act promptly in such serious matters?”
The judges stopped short of passing any concrete direction but stressed that an inquiry was still underway and negligence cannot be ruled out.
Delay in Investigation at IIT Kharagpur
In the case of IIT Kharagpur, Bhatt stated that no substantial update had been received from the local police, which drew sharp criticism from the Bench.
The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance on July 21, after two suicides came to light — that of a fourth-year mechanical engineering student Ritam Mandal at IIT Kharagpur and Jyoti Sharma at Sharda University.
The court has demanded explanations from both institutions about whether the police were promptly informed and whether criminal investigations were initiated in a timely manner. It warned that failure to register FIRs without delay could invite contempt proceedings.
A Series of Tragic Incidents
Ritam Mandal, a native of Kolkata and a final-year mechanical engineering student in the five-year dual degree programme at IIT Kharagpur, was found dead on July 18. His death is the fourth suicide on the IIT Kharagpur campus in 2025 alone, marking a deeply troubling trend.
Earlier, on January 12, the body of Shaon Mallick, a third-year electronics engineering student, was also found hanging in his hostel room. These repeated incidents have thrown a spotlight on the mental health crisis gripping some of India’s top educational institutions.
In the case of Jyoti Sharma, the court noted the alarming lack of sensitivity and procedural integrity on the part of the university administration. Her death in the hostel has further fuelled calls for urgent mental health reforms, awareness programs, and accountability measures on campuses.
Institutional Accountability Under Scrutiny
The Supreme Court's intervention sends a strong message to all educational institutions across the country to treat mental health as a top priority and to adhere strictly to guidelines concerning student welfare, communication with families, and cooperation with law enforcement.
The Bench is expected to resume hearings after four weeks once it receives the police status reports and institutional responses. The outcomes of these proceedings may set new legal and administrative standards for student safety in India.
Final Thoughts from The Trending People
The spate of suicides at prestigious institutions like IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University is not just a tragic series of events—it is a wake-up call. The need for systemic change in how we address mental health, student stress, and administrative accountability has never been more urgent. Institutions must act now to ensure no student feels isolated or unheard.